Clear Tail Lights + Neons (QLD)

[mulligan-can]

Two questions (for queensland btw):

Are clear (ie altezza) tail lights legal?

Are neons legal? I know that yellow, red, blue and white aren't but its really vague. (I mean legal as in can you drive around with them on?) Oh and what about if you have them installed and only turn them on when parked? Would that be legal? Would red be legal in that case?

[1vngal]

As far as the altezza lights go, if they are the ones I'm thinking of, which I'm pretty sure there's only one clear kind you can get for VN, then no. They are not legal. As the have no red reflector on them. Neons, I dunno about. But red are a definate no no here in Vic. Any aftermarket red light on the exterior is illegal.

[mulligan-can]

oh. ok. so if they had a red reflector on them they would be fine?

[cruzncommo]

oh. ok. so if they had a red reflector on them they would be fine?

yes, they would. and neons, wtf ITS A COMMODORE NOT JAPCRAP.

[samuels]

As far as the altezza lights go, if they are the ones I'm thinking of, which I'm pretty sure there's only one clear kind you can get for VN, then no. They are not legal. As the have no red reflector on them. Neons, I dunno about. But red are a definate no no here in Vic. Any aftermarket red light on the exterior is illegal.

to my knowledge the clear lights(altezza) are legal in tassie,because you can see the red dot in the brake light,as long as it shows a strong red glow...it's legal,(after all you also have the eye height brake light as well in the commodores rear window ),as for neon lights it was once legal,but apparently not now as they say it is too distracting to other drivers who are perving on the car with the neons

[J_D]

Neons are only legal if they are wired up so they can only be used when the vehicle is stationary(ie:hooked up to the handbrake switch so they can only be operated when the hand brake is on)and if fitted externally must not be directly visible to other road users(ie:tucked under bumper bars or side skirts).

[mulligan-can]

yes, they would. and neons, wtf ITS A COMMODORE NOT JAPCRAP.

haha im asking for a mate who has a japcar although i wanna know about the clear tailights myself as i think they would look ok with an all black car. just tossing around ideas and figure its better to know legal vs illegal cos i dont feel like getting defected

[cbb01]

OK i got done speeding the other week. The copper was allright and i was standing outside talking to him for about 20 mins. He was like nice car and was having a look around it. I asked him about the clear taillights i had and he said

As long as the right coloured light showed when it should ( red brake etc )
then they werent to worried but also said department of transport might be a different story.

It just depends how you are driving when you get pulled over. Generally doing donuts and smoke coming off your wheels then he might decide he doesnt like your lights either.

I have been driving with my taillights for almost 12 months and had no problem.

[1vngal]

to my knowledge the clear lights(altezza) are legal in tassie,because you can see the red dot in the brake light,as long as it shows a strong red glow...it's legal,(after all you also have the eye height brake light as well in the commodores rear window ),as for neon lights it was once legal,but apparently not now as they say it is too distracting to other drivers who are perving on the car with the neons

Nope. It doesn't matter about the glow of the globe or anything. It needs to have the actual red reflector. (Near the reverse light on a standard set) Wagons on the other hand, it is legal, coz the reflector is on the rear bumper. Not part of the light.

It's not a state to state law either. It's not ADR approved for that exact reason, so it's illegal everywhere.

[1vngal]

As long as the right coloured light showed when it should ( red brake etc )
then they werent to worried but also said department of transport might be a different story.

You're exactly right. Most cops wouldn't even bother with it, unless they wanted to be a prick. But, Traffic cops (TMU, Transport Inpectors etc.) would get you for it.

You can drive round for the rest of your life and not get caught for it, but it's still illegal.

As long as the right coloured light showed when it should ( red brake etc )

This though is incorrect. It HAS to have the red reflector to be a fully legal aftermarket part.

[JD]

what if you got those little stick on red reflectors, it'd look a bit stupid but would it make it legal then?

[1vngal]

what if you got those little stick on red reflectors, it'd look a bit stupid but would it make it legal then?

I don't see why not....

[1991_Vn2nV]

what if you got those little stick on red reflectors, it'd look a bit stupid but would it make it legal then?

Technically yes, but you'd be sacrificing your heterosexuality in the process.

[samuels]

Nope. It doesn't matter about the glow of the globe or anything. It needs to have the actual red reflector. (Near the reverse light on a standard set) Wagons on the other hand, it is legal, coz the reflector is on the rear bumper. Not part of the light.

It's not a state to state law either. It's not ADR approved for that exact reason, so it's illegal everywhere.

ummm well i'm sorry,clear lights are legal in tassie,like i said as long as you can see a red glow when brake is applied,or has a red spot behind the clear as altezza lights do....then it's completely legal.i asked last night,relavant authorities
PS... it is a state to state law,because all motor vehicle replacement parts have to have an ADR.

[Cobez]

haha im asking for a mate who has a japcar although i wanna know about the clear tailights myself as i think they would look ok with an all black car. just tossing around ideas and figure its better to know legal vs illegal cos i dont feel like getting defected

i have clear tail lights on my vp........and the brake lights are:

1) hard to see on a sunny day so try not to brake hard where possible.......
2) the light from the brakes dont show up red anyways u get red globes with them but they show up pink from under the lens......
3) i have been tailed by coppers in the day and at night for a while and havent been done for them yet.......and i live in knox / ferntree gully (vic) which is nortorious for nazi copper beacuse there are HEAPS of P plater and young holden drivers around here that go silly in their cars therefore the cops have had to clamp down on p plater heaps around here


and i sincerely hope your not putting neons on your holden.........lol

[Cobez]

Technically yes, but you'd be sacrificing your heterosexuality in the process.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[1vngal]

PS... it is a state to state law,because all motor vehicle replacement parts have to have an ADR.

Which the clear lights dont.

And as fpr being legal in tassie, well how come when I lived for 19 years, a mate of mine got done for these lights because they are illegal??

He got a defect and had to have them changed.

[knowledge_is_power]

ummm well i'm sorry,clear lights are legal in tassie,like i said as long as you can see a red glow when brake is applied,or has a red spot behind the clear as altezza lights do....then it's completely legal.i asked last night,relavant authorities
PS... it is a state to state law,because all motor vehicle replacement parts have to have an ADR.

ADR Approval is a requirement for Original Equipment Manufactured parts, i.e. Holden has to obtain ADR Approval for every component covered by an Australian Design Rule, such as lights etc.
Any company can manufacture and sell parts after market without ADR approval. These parts if made to ADR requirements are legal to use without an ADR Approval number, however if the parts fail to meet ADR requirements they can be illegal to install and use on a road registered vehicle. It is recommended to only purchase items with ADR approval you know that it is legal to use as intended. Without an ADR approval number your only guessing and ignorance is not a defence.

As to tail lights, if you’re worried about legality talk to someone who knows the ADR requirements for your year of vehicle or has a copy you can read, or purchase your own copy. The ADR will stipulate that a red (and only red) reflector must be seen from the rear of the vehicle, Yellow from the side and white from the front, which applies to cars, trucks, motorbikes, bicycles and trailers. The ADR may also cover size, location, reflection intensity, and distance visible from the vehicle.

I believe that the Altezza lights have a white reflector, which is a big no no, even in state law. And police aside it may be just the reason your insurance company decides to disqualify your policy at the time of an incident.

[samuels]

ADR Approval is a requirement for Original Equipment Manufactured parts, i.e. Holden has to obtain ADR Approval for every component covered by an Australian Design Rule, such as lights etc.
Any company can manufacture and sell parts after market without ADR approval. These parts if made to ADR requirements are legal to use without an ADR Approval number, however if the parts fail to meet ADR requirements they can be illegal to install and use on a road registered vehicle. It is recommended to only purchase items with ADR approval you know that it is legal to use as intended. Without an ADR approval number your only guessing and ignorance is not a defence.

As to tail lights, if you’re worried about legality talk to someone who knows the ADR requirements for your year of vehicle or has a copy you can read, or purchase your own copy. The ADR will stipulate that a red (and only red) reflector must be seen from the rear of the vehicle, Yellow from the side and white from the front, which applies to cars, trucks, motorbikes, bicycles and trailers. The ADR may also cover size, location, reflection intensity, and distance visible from the vehicle.

I believe that the Altezza lights have a white reflector, which is a big no no, even in state law. And police aside it may be just the reason your insurance company decides to disqualify your policy at the time of an incident.

ADR is not just for genuine replacement parts...this design rule is to protect the car owners safety....there is also another compliance that non genuine motor vehicles parts companys don't have to adhere to,and sorry i can't remember that.altezza lights do have red reflectors on them....the genuine altezza's not the mock ones you see on ebay.as i said,i checked last night with a few people in that area and thats what i was informed,they are legal as long as the red can be seen& red reflector,if i came out of retirement and got my road/registration certificate to give people the go ahead to register their vehicles i could tell you for sure,but seeing as i'm retired and am taking it from our transport inspectors and pitters that they are legal....
just to clear the air....the mock ones you see on ebay are all clear and you are correct in saying that THEY are illegal,people say that the red reflected ones for the vn sedans aren't made,well they are, you just have to shop around,i believe rare spares keep them,but please don't hold me to that

[samuels]

Which the clear lights dont.

And as fpr being legal in tassie, well how come when I lived for 19 years, a mate of mine got done for these lights because they are illegal??

He got a defect and had to have them changed.

he may well of been a bit cheeky.... do you think
like i just said in post before this...yes the all clear tail lights may well be illegal,but as i said the ones that have the red reflectors on the actual brake light itself are also available for VN's,people tell you they aren't,but they are you just have too shop around

[JD]

Technically yes, but you'd be sacrificing your heterosexuality in the process.

yeah i didnt think it would look to hot.

[1vngal]

he may well of been a bit cheeky.... do you think
like i just said in post before this...yes the all clear tail lights may well be illegal,but as i said the ones that have the red reflectors on the actual brake light itself are also available for VN's,people tell you they aren't,but they are you just have too shop around

It was transport that got him, not just a cop. It's those bastards you've gotta watch.

[mulligan-can]

and i sincerely hope your not putting neons on your holden.........lol

lmao yeah no i dont think i will be


oh and im thinking bugger the clear taillights, i think they would look good with black but i dont feel like getting defected or anything . ill just buy a new set or see if i can polish up the current ones, they are looking 18 years old lol

[knowledge_is_power]

ADR is not just for genuine replacement parts...this design rule is to protect the car owners safety....there is also another compliance that non genuine motor vehicles parts companys don't have to adhere to,and sorry i can't remember that.altezza lights do have red reflectors on them....the genuine altezza's not the mock ones you see on ebay.as i said,i checked last night with a few people in that area and thats what i was informed,they are legal as long as the red can be seen& red reflector,if i came out of retirement and got my road/registration certificate to give people the go ahead to register their vehicles i could tell you for sure,but seeing as i'm retired and am taking it from our transport inspectors and pitters that they are legal....
just to clear the air....the mock ones you see on ebay are all clear and you are correct in saying that THEY are illegal,people say that the red reflected ones for the vn sedans aren't made,well they are, you just have to shop around,i believe rare spares keep them,but please don't hold me to that

You are right, the ADR's are for everyone’s safety and not just OEM. The point I was trying to get across was ADR for OEM's is mandatory, but optional for after market manufactures to manufacture and sell.

I wasn't aware that the "Genuine" Altezza lights had a red reflector. All of the clear lights for the VN, VP, VR, VS I have seen (as in the lights look the same as factory but instead use a colourless clear/white plastic) have had a clear/white reflector and even some no reflector at all, and this is what I was referring to.

So if the lights have a red reflector then they MAY be legal, but as stated previously there may be other factors in the ADR that regulate what the lights require to comply, hence the reason I recommended obtaining the relevant ADR documentation.

Jezz

[1vngal]

You are right, the ADR's are for everyone’s safety and not just OEM. The point I was trying to get across was ADR for OEM's is mandatory, but optional for after market manufactures to manufacture and sell.

I wasn't aware that the "Genuine" Altezza lights had a red reflector. All of the clear lights for the VN, VP, VR, VS I have seen (as in the lights look the same as factory but instead use a colourless clear/white plastic) have had a clear/white reflector and even some no reflector at all, and this is what I was referring to.

So if the lights have a red reflector then they MAY be legal, but as stated previously there may be other factors in the ADR that regulate what the lights require to comply, hence the reason I recommended obtaining the relevant ADR documentation.

Jezz

Same here. Other than the completely clear ones, the only other aftermarket taillight I have seen is the one with the only the indicator as clear. They're legal, but the others aren't.